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Hybrid Learning Platform

Discover how Panopto video and knowledge-sharing technologies can become the cornerstone of true hybrid learning in any organization.

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Hybrid learning is already an important element of modern education and will continue to be part of the landscape of teaching and learning. By incorporating both in-person and online elements, this approach ensures that all students—whether attending in person or remotely—receive consistent, high-quality learning experiences, whether synchronously or asynchronously. It effectively integrates face-to-face instruction with online components, offering flexibility and accessibility to diverse student populations.

While implementing hybrid learning effectively can be challenging, educational strategies are continually advancing to make it more engaging, user-friendly, and reliable. Its potential for enhancing education through is evident, with many students reporting positive outcomes after experiencing this approach.

It’s worth mentioning that HyFlex learning is a related concept with a similar goal: blending in-person and online learning in a flexible, student-centered way. As more educators turn to hybrid learning, designing classrooms that effectively support this model is essential for meeting the needs of both faculty and students.

Hybrid vs HyFlex learning

Hybrid, HyFlex – what’s the difference? Although HyFlex learning does see some crossover with the hybrid learning approach, there are a number of important distinctions that separate the two.

When it comes to hybrid learning, students take part in a combination of face-to-face classes and online asynchronous/synchronous classes. For example, a student may have weekly in-person lectures and also be required to complete at-home classes and online discussions. On the other hand, HyFlex teaching focuses on providing students with the most flexibility by giving them the option to choose from learning in-person, online synchronously or asynchronously.

Other distinctions include the type of content that students engage with. In the hybrid approach, all students are absorbing the same material, whereas in HyFlex learning students take part in a number of different educational activities that focus on the same learning outcomes.

68% of students are interested in taking courses that offer hybrid teaching methods.

What are the Benefits of Hybrid Learning?

There are many benefits to hybrid learning for students, faculty, and higher education institutions as a whole. These benefits include:

For students

Increases autonomy
Provides flexible learning and increases accessibility for students from a range of backgrounds
Increases number of learning resources create a richer educational environment

For faculty

Offers lecturers the best of both worlds – they can increase their online teaching abilities while still maintaining in-class visibility

For higher education institutions

Increases enrollment by appealing to a wider range of students who may be looking for flexible options

What are the challenges of a Hybrid classroom?

When implementing hybrid or hyflex learning strategies there can often be challenges. These include:

Instructors may require certain technology their institution may not provide
Instructors can’t take a one-size-fits-all approach; they need to implement a separate strategy that caters to in-person, synchronous, and asynchronous students individually
Tracking student progress and providing feedback may be difficult to coordinate

So, what can you do about these challenges? With the right preparation, it is possible to design an effective Hybrid Learning classroom that can overcome any potential limitations.

How to Design an Effective Hybrid Classroom for Learning

Since the tangible hybrid classroom remains uncharted territory for many – it may have been conceptualized but not yet implemented – many faculty and students often require proper coaching and guidance to understand how to maximize this new learning environment. To enhance the benefits and counteract any possible challenges that may be associated with the hybrid mode of learning, carefully designing an effective teaching environment is essential.

“The way that our [HyFlex] classrooms are designed, we’re able to accomplish both the synchronous environment and the asynchronous environment, thanks to Panopto.”
Andy Borts, Senior Instructional Technology Support Specialist at University of Nevada Las Vegas

Preparing for Hybrid and Hyflex Learning as an educator

When it comes to implementing a hybrid classroom, preparation as an educator is key. Keep in mind that you are working towards creating an equitable learning environment for all students – whether in person, asynchronous online, or synchronous online – and this can require proper planning to execute successfully.

1. Familiarize yourself with your teaching environment.

This is your domain, and it’s important that you are comfortable in it. Develop an idea of how you will use the space best to cater to all students, including determining where you will stand so that you are facing the camera and students in the lecture hall simultaneously.

2. Test out technology.

There’s nothing worse than starting a live-streamed presentation to discover that no one can hear you. Avoid any potential issues by testing and setting up technology including microphones, audio, cameras, and video management system (VMS) to ensure smooth sailing for the actual class.

3. Communicate.

Providing clear communication with students prior to the class is essential to ensure they are aware of all expectations, requirements, and details required to access and engage with the class. This includes sending out the class schedule, agenda, and resources or video conferencing links for remote and in-person learners.

Tips and best practices for effective hybrid teaching program

Once you are prepared for a hybrid or hyflex classroom, how do you actually go about teaching? Here are some tips to create an effective teaching program.

1. Provide orientation and training for all faculty.

Create an orientation session and training workshops for faculty to make sure they have what they need and understand how to best teach in a hybrid classroom so engagement is happening equitably.

2. Focus on providing an engaging and equitable experience for all learners.

It’s important to ensure that all students – regardless of location – receive the same learning experience. Confirm that everyone watching remotely can hear you and repeat the questions and comments made in-class to the camera. Allow additional time for remote viewers to ask questions to create an engaging, interactive experience for all.

Consider how you are going to provide engaging and equitable experiences: conduct mini lectures in person, live-streamed, and recorded; poll or quizzing students based on course content; create timed writing tasks that can be submitted online or in person; or pairing students in groups either in person, over video conferencing, or in discussion threads on videos that can be used by both remote and local students (if they have their laptops with them). In addition, ensure accessibility for all students by providing captions for recorded videos.

3. Set clear expectations around learning outcomes and student behaviors.

For many students, your course may be their first experience in a hybrid classroom, so walking them through a roadmap of the structure, learning outcomes, and their expected behavior is vital. These expectations can be conveyed at the start of the program and if necessary, reinforced weekly through providing an update on class progress. For example, determine at the start of a course if students raise their hands in the WebEx meeting or type questions in the chat.

4. Make use of a student assistant or volunteer to monitor the online chat.

Managing various modes of communication simultaneously can be a challenge. Here’s where making use of a student assistant or a volunteer to monitor the online conversation can help the lecturer break back and forth between the two modes, take the pressure off, and ensure that all students are being heard.

5. Encourage feedback and open discussion.

Oftentimes students may be struggling with the way a lecturer is providing information, but may be too scared to speak up. Counteract this by creating an open-door policy that encourages feedback and open discussion so you can find out exactly what is working and what isn’t.

6. Standardize.

Standardize learning materials and teaching resources as much as possible. This can help in support, training, and the replacement of equipment if necessary.

By the end of 2025, U.S. public schools are expected to utilize a combination of in person and remote learning methods.

Utilizing Video Platforms for the Hybrid and Hyflex Classroom

Video is a core part of hybrid or flex classrooms—without it, online asynchronous and synchronous students would not be able to interact with the class. Video technology should not be a hurdle when it comes to implementing a true hybrid classroom—did you know that 90% of universities already have the necessary technologies in place to support more blended models? With that in mind, it’s important to understand how to make the most of video in a flexible learning environment.

90% of universities already have the necessary technologies in place to support more blended models.

1. Use a video content management system that offers video recording, editing, and live streaming all in one.

Avoid overwhelming students and staff with an excess of programs and tools by strategically selecting a VMS that integrates numerous functions into one.

Panopto’s video recording software securely manages, broadcasts, edits, and searches all of your videos in one place. Show faculty the possibilities of interaction that are possible with a VMS, how it aligns with how they taught before, and how they can extend their previous teaching methods.

2. Incorporate interactive and personalized video elements to strengthen engagement for remote learners.

Incorporate interactive elements into your hybrid program to increase engagement and boost learning outcomes. This could include group discussions that occur simultaneously in class and over video conferencing, and at a later time asynchronously via videos with a discussion thread.

In addition, video quizzes, and virtual polling can be used simultaneously to reflect quizzing that is occuring in-class. Utilizing a VMS and video learning library can assist with scalability of these features and enable users to personalize their viewing experience and increase interactivity.

Video also offers a greater level of accessibility to remote students who can utilize tools like captions or watching videos at a slower or faster speed.

3. Monitor student engagement and outcomes to continuously improve video lessons.

When students are present in person it is easy to monitor attendance, engagement, and how each person resonates with the content. But what about the students that aren’t physically there for lecturers to engage with?

Panopto’s video platform provides data and analytics that can help faculty monitor student engagement and outcomes. From providing data on who has watched a certain video to the exact point in a video where people stop watching, keeping track of how students use the content, what areas they have mastered, and where they can continue to grow has never been easier.